Vancouver, WA

When we first went to Heritage Park in Camas I found out the Heritage Trail was over three miles long and that there was another trailhead at the other end with parking and a restroom. Years ago I had volunteered at Camp Currie for a weekend children’s event and we had taken canoes to where Lacamas Lake flows under the bridge at Goodwin Road. I thought this end of the trail might start near that bridge. Good thinking, I found the parking area for the trail just before you round the curve and go over the bridge.

There were quite a few cars parked at the entrance to the trail, and we met a few people going both directions but for the most part we enjoyed our walk with no one else around, except the golfers. This end of the park is right next to the Camas Meadows Golf Club and it weaves in and out of view on the right while a church camp is located on the left. At one point there was a yellow do not cross tape tied to a section of trees on the left side of the trail, an odd thing to see in the “woods”.

It was a little later in the day than we usually take a walk and when I told Layla I wanted to make it to the half-mile marker, she wasn’t very happy about it. When I told her it was probably only 10 more minutes she felt a little better. Still I was surprised that it took so little time for us to walk the half mile…that walking all summer must have been good for us.

This part of the trail is not as scenic as the lakeside end, and is more suitable for exercising, dog walking or activities where your surroundings do not make much difference, at least not for the first half mile. Though the trail is wide and flat, Layla and I were spoiled from our walk at the southeastern end of the trail and I was not too disappointed to turn back.

To reach this trailhead, take Mill Plain to 192^nd Avenue and head north to 13^th Street, take a right and follow the winding road, which becomes Goodwin, until you see the trail sign and parking on the right, just past the Camas Meadows Golf Club. Let me know if you hike further than a half-mile and come to something worth seeing.